LEIGH WOOD is looking to make a name for himself as he faces Michael Conlan in his hometown of Nottingham.
Wood impressively stopped Chinese fighter Can Xu in the 12th round of their clash last summer to secure the WBC ‘Regular’ featherweight title at Fight Camp.
And the 33-year-old was immediately ordered to defend his title against Ireland’s Conlan, who is signed by American promoters Top Rank.
Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom won the purse bids for the fight, which was originally touted to take place in both Belfast and New York.
But Wood will have the hometown advantage in Nottingham, with 9,000 fans expected to attend the fight.
The winner could be elevated to the ‘Super’ world champion at 126lbs, with current champ Leo Santa Cruz not likely to return to defend his belt.
Live results
- Leigh Wood vs. Michael Conlan
- Terri Harper beat Yamila Belen Abellaneda
- Caoimhin Agyarko beat Juan Carlos Rubio
- Gary Cully beat Miguel Vazquez
- Erica Farias beat Sandy Ryan
- Thomas Whittaker-Hart beat Ben Thomas
- Thomas Carty beat Michael Boloz
- Nico Leivars beat Jose Hernandez
ROUND FIVE: Wood vs Conlan
Wood is caught again early on – but steadies himself after a testing first 30 seconds.
Conlan ends the fourth with fierce hook on target
Conlan finished the round strongly.
And Wood’s corner are urging him to up his punch rate.
Crowd roaring Wood on
Wood is resisting well against the Belfast hero.
He misses with a left-hander but his usual sharpness is missing.
Conlan responds well, but misses with a huge shot
ROUND FOUR: Wood vs Conlan
Conlan’s targeting the body again – but he was forced back onto the ropes himself.
Conlan lands a huge right
Wood is rocked again but they don’t come much tougher than him.
Conlan is boxing neatly – but somehow Wood ended the third round tidily and possibly on top
ROUND THREE: Wood vs Conlan
Wood is edging his way back into it, but he still looks a bit shaky.
ROUND TWO: Wood vs Conlan
Wood is swinging out wildly, his head still not clear from Conlan’s looping left-hander that floored him in the opener.
But the Brit managed to hold on.
Leigh Wood vs Michael Conlan
ROUND ONE: Wood was down in the final seconds of the first round as he defends his WBA featherweight crown.
Yet Conlan had been on the back foot earlier.
Agyarko vs Rubio – Final result
Agyarko takes the victory and celebrates by donning a sombrero – living up to his Canelo nickname.
Agyarko vs Rubio – R10
The ‘Irish Canelo’ goes for broke in search of a knockout and has Rubio on the ropes once more but yet again cannot get his opponent on the canvas.
Rubio lands a couple of body punches but it will not be enough – he has been well and truly beaten here.
The pair embrace at the end of a hard-fought battle but it is Agyarko who has done enough to win the 11th fight of his boxing career.
Agyarko vs Rubio – R10
Final stanza now. Agyarko well in the lead.
Rubio takes another peppering but keeps upright and throwing.
Agyarko sees the fight out and will take a UD very shortly.
Carlos Rubio is a freakishly brave man.
Agyarko vs Rubio – R9
Again the man from Belfast cannot find the killer punch to land a KO with Rubio still giving as good as he gets.
But it is clear Rubio is tiring and lacking power in his punches.
That is bad news considering he needs a knock-out to somehow pull this one out of the bag – advantage Agyarko heading into the tenth!
Agyarko vs Rubio – R8
Agyarko comes close to ending the fight with a flurry of powerful right hands.
But the Mexican challenger somehow stays up right and lives to fight another round.
His left eye has taken damage however and he is receiving treatment – it doesn’t look good for Rubio.
Agyarko vs Rubio – R5
The Belfast ace throws everything into a couple of long-range uppercuts but misses wildly.
Rubio is definitely concerned about his potential power.
There isn’t punch coming back from the Mexican so Agyarko is happy walking him down and looking for a perfect shot to end things.
Agyarko vs Rubio – R4
Agyarko lands a cuffing left hook when Rubio dares throw a jab.
Then a straight right flies right down the Mexican’s pipe.
Rubio keeps hurling back, though, then two brutal right hands crunch into Rubio and the bell saves him on the ropes.
A vicious Agyarko attack right on the bell that almost lands him a stoppage win.
Can he finish if off in the fifth?
Agyarko vs Rubio – R3
Rubio lands a couple of his own digs as Agyarko waits a split second too long.
Agyarko switches to mimic Rubio’s stance and has a brief bit of success before switching back.
The Irishman is looking for a highlight reel counter KO but Rubio might be too clever to fall into the trap.
Agyarko vs Rubio – R2
Rubio is a Mexican southpaw with height but his ribs will soon be tested by Agyarko’s body shots.
Agyarko boxes with his lead left hand hangling low by his waist but his reflexes are rapid as he lands with a counter right.
Two in the bank for Agyarko but he will want a special stoppage on such a big night for Irish boxing.
Agyarko vs Rubio – R1
Ireland’s middleweight sensation, Caoimhin Agyarko, looks to put on another show now on Mick Conlan’s undercard.
Agyarko is a fearsome body puncher enjoying the nickname Irish Canelo.
Rubio’s record looks impressive but his opponents have been push-overs and he looks spindly compaired to the Belfast banger.
Harper vs Abellaneda – R10
Harper has coped cooly with the cut and there’s a warm sign of respect as the final stanza starts.
It’s a been a good comeback from Harper, a live opponent who has hit her.
She could have taken an easy push-over so deserves credit for this contest and performance, at a new weight.
Unanimous decision win coming…
Harper vs Abellaneda – R9
Peachy left hands from Harper – out of the southpaw stance – sting Abellaneda.
Harper’s defensive work has been really sound.
The Brit banks the penultimate round with early power shots and head movement.
Harper vs Abellaneda – R6
Harper is warned over a low-blow as Abellaneda complains about an illegal punch.
The Argentine lands a couple of shots and Harper does not worry.
A closer round for the judges to score.
Harper should be well ahead though.
Harper vs Abellaneda – R5
Harper banks another round but Abellaneda is not wilting.
Crisp combiantions land from the Denaby ace but still no knockdowns scores.
Two minutes rounds definitely limit KO chances on the women’s code.
Harper vs Abellaneda – R4
Team Harper clean up the wound and the ace races back out.
Abellaneda is being made to miss and punished with counters.
A crisp right uppercut from Harper connects but Abellaneda is a tough Argentine.
The cut opens again and naturally carries the blood down into Harper’s eye but the team seem comfortable coping with it.
Harper vs Abellaneda – R3
Two great right hands from Harper score.
Abellaneda is hurt and looks desperate already.
Harper has a nasty cut over her left eye but it must have come from a clash of heads as she has not been hit.
Another sweet round for Harper but her corner have a job on their hands with a gash in her eyebrow.
Harper vs Abellaneda – R2
Abellaneda is game and rugged but crude with looping right hands.
Harper is able to evade her shots smoothly and ping back.
Two rounds in the bank for the Brit now but we want to see more scoring shots from the Englishwoman.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
